We’re in the think of the bitter cold and the snow won’t be gone for a couple of months yet, so it’s crucial that we continue to take every precaution necessary to ensure that our pets are safe through the entirety of winter. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to ensure your pet is safe while still going about every-day life. After all, pets are such an important part of any family and it’s important to keep them both safe and comfortable year-round! Here are some tried-and-true ways to make sure you’re taking proper care of your pet in the winter:
- Shorten the length of your walks – It goes without saying that exercise remains necessary for your dog’s overall health in the winter. If the temperatures are ok for a human to take a walk, they should be ok for your dog. However, their paws tend to get cold much faster than we often anticipate. So, take the walk but make sure to shorten it when it’s too cold. Consider taking three shorter walks a day instead of two longer ones.
- Dress them accordingly – when taking your dog outside, make sure they are dressed for the weather just like you would be. If they seem to generally be cold, get them a sweater or coat to wear. Also, keep an eye on their paws. When dogs get too cold, they often lift their paws up and stay in place or start to limp. Take this as a sign that they have either been outside for too long or that they might need to wear booties when they go outside.
- Be cognizant about using ice melts – While ice melts are often necessary after a winter storm, it’s important to use them with your pets in mind. If ingested, dogs and cats can often get very sick, leading to diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. When laying ice melts, make sure that your pet is not around and keep an eye on them afterward to ensure that they don’t eat the treated snow or the product itself. When they come inside, make sure to thoroughly clean and wipe off their paws with a damp towel to prevent ingesting the ice melts when they groom their paws. Wiping their paws is also necessary when around ice melts due to the pads of your dog’s feet being sensitive to burns and rashes from the ice melts. Do you buy pet-friendly ice melts? Wonderful! While this is a great step to making sure your pet doesn’t get sick, make sure you’re still paying attention because there are chemicals that could still cause a mild upset stomach.
- Keep them inside – While some family dogs might be considered outdoor pets, it is crucial that they are kept inside in the winter. This also goes for cats, rabbits, etc. Any animal that is outside throughout the other seasons must be brought inside during the winter to ensure their safety and prevent them from freezing.
- Keep them at a safe distance from the fireplace – Who can resist the warmth of the fireplace on a cold winter night? This is ok for your pets to enjoy, just make sure they’re at a safe distance from the flames and always keep the screen up, especially when your fireplace is on.
- Make sure they are always wearing a collar – Believe it or not, your dogs and cats are more at risk for getting lost and running too far from home during the winter months. This is largely due to the long dark days and snowy conditions. Making sure they have the most up-to-date information on their collar will help get them home sooner if you lose them.
- Think twice about ice – Before heading out on a walk or playing in the yard, make sure you’ve thought about the potential for ice. Dogs especially enjoy running around and playing in the snow and slipping on underlying ice could cause a significant injury. Also, think twice about taking your pets onto a frozen lake. While it might sound like fun in retrospect, there is no guarantee the ice can support the weight of your dog, and falling through the ice could be deadly.
There are many ways to safely enjoy winter with the furriest members of your family! Whether you’re looking for a snow-covered hike or just playing in the backyard, make the best of the rest of your winter!
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